Coffee: best friend or cancerous relationship?

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. Not only can it be a delicious concoction of tastes and aromas prepared in a wide variety of ways, but it also contains a welcome pick-me-up due to its high caffeine content. In the United States alone it is said that 64 percent of adults have at least one cup of coffee a day. Some argue for the considerable health benefits associated with drinking coffee, such as a lowered risk of heart disease. However, new research shows that the down sides may out way the good.

When coffee beans are roasted they produce a chemical called acrylamide, seen in Image 1, a currently unavoidable byproduct of the roasting process that give the beans their aromatic taste. California has recently issued a law called Proposition 65 that states that consumers must be made aware of any possible carcinogenic or health-harming chemicals present in their food and drink products. Under this law acrylamide is labeled as a carcinogen, therefore any and all coffee sold in California must contain a cancer warning. The reason there is concern about acrylamide is because in addition to some foods, it can be found in cigarette smoke as well as food packaging and some adhesives. 

Image 1: Skeletal formula of acrylamide

Proposition 65 was first suggested in March of this year. A California superior court judge felt the research done by coffee companies on how the positive effects of coffee outweigh the risk of cancer from acrylamide was inadequate. Evidently the majority agreed and the court ruled in favor of this proposition in May. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently commented on this new law saying that they oppose the ruling that coffee be labeled as a carcinogen. The FDA makes a point of mentioning that the chemical acrylamide is a byproduct of many high-temperature food preparations such as frying, roasting, and baking, as shown in Image 2. In addition, studies in the scientific community have reported that drinking coffee has not been shown to increase risks of cancer, despite the evidence of high levels of acrylamide being linked to cancer in animals. Therefore, in June it was recommended that coffee be exempt from the Proposition 65 cancer warning due to acrylamide.

Image 2: Cartoon image of various foods that contain acrylamide
due to their high temperature cooking formation. 

The article outlining this legal dispute brings up relevant conversations on the importance of thorough and well-supported chemical studies regarding food and drink consumption. The article emphasized how expertly researched topics can still have room for conflicting interpretations. In addition, it exposed the great importance of furthering scientific knowledge particularly in the field of chemistry for the betterment of our societies health and wellness. The consensus on whether or not the benefits of coffee overshadow the carcinogenic side effects continue to be debated by those in the scientific community. However, as of now the majority support this conclusion but are still encouraging further research on the topic.

Rebecca Trager, 4 September 2018 https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/food-agency-wades-into-californian-coffee-cancer-labels-controversy/3009463.article

Tiffany Hsu, 30 March 2018 https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/30/business/coffee-cancer-warning.html

Elisabeth Sherman, 19 March 2018 https://www.foodandwine.com/news/americans-drinking-more-coffee-ever

American Cancer Society, 10 March 2016 https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/acrylamide.html